A car wash, bake sale and raffle at the Christ Congregational Church on Saturday raised $648 for the Fort Kent Public Library.

FORT KENT, Maine — A car wash, bake sale and raffle at the Christ Congregational Church on Saturday raised $648 for the Fort Kent Public Library.

“Even better than the money, I think we raised awareness regarding the library’s needs,” said Dr. Kristin Hartt, head of the Christ Congregational Church’s Benevolence Committee. “Quite a few of the people coming to the fundraiser did not understand how the library is funded or realize they need help. We’re hoping that spreading the word will increase community support.”

Youth volunteers washed cars in the church parking lot to raise money while others sold baked goods, coffee and lemonade. Visitors who purchased raffle tickets won donated items such as a marionette, homemade jams and jellies, colorful pot scrubbers and artwork.

The Fort Kent Public Library is a non-profit organization that is only partially funded through the Town of Fort Kent annual budget. Those monies provide library employees’ salaries and benefits as well as water and sewer utilities. The library itself is responsible for all other utilities such as heat and electricity, as well as building and grounds maintenance costs. The town also does not provide funding for books or the hardware and software that support the library circulation system.

The Fort Kent Public Library’s board of trustees plans to use money raised from Saturday’s fundraiser to buy new books.

To donate funds to the Fort Kent Public Library, make checks payable to Fort Kent Public Library and send to 1 Monument Square, Fort Kent, Maine 04743.

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